Post by windrunner on Jun 16, 2009 7:39:56 GMT -5

(via Flightsim.com)

Has someone tried this new environment for FS2004:

FS2004 Howard's Mix The FSX Experience. Extreme Graphics makeover update, includes a texture swap program. Howard's Mix will move our trusted FS2004 into this century with new ground water clouds/sky enhanced environmental files. All default building have been upgraded. Trees completely redrawn with static birds added. Professional quality installer on main program. By Howard Smith.

Post by beana51 on Jun 16, 2009 15:50:59 GMT -5

Hi Damien,this Howard mix appears something real new for FS9.Scenery,weather,Clouds,water,and all is a new look in FS9...Iam still exploring all..I run my FS9 maxed out..this has put no strain on frame rates or anything...being a big fan of Photo type scenery ,this addition, gives me a more realistic overall look...I think this is something that will change FS9....I believe it rivals FSX now ,without the higher frame rates,.You can retain the friendless of the FS9 cockpits....Still flying around in it..lot to see and evaluate,but make no mistake about it...its a new look FS9....so far I'm pleased with it.Thanx to Howard Smith and Company for this gift,this is a serous effort, lots of work,and it looks great.....Thanx for the heads up Damien...CIAO...Vin.......Wonder what the feed back will be....???

Post by Guest on Jun 17, 2009 20:22:29 GMT -5

I downloaded it and read all the readme's. What I'm wondering is how it will work on top of Silver Wings and Golden Wings 3. I really like all the screen shots and would sure like to use Howard's Mix as long as it doesn't conflict with the Lyons SW and GW3. Has anyone tried it?

Post by windrunner on Jun 18, 2009 2:42:52 GMT -5

If it doesn't touch the ground textures of GW or SW, I think it will only change the weather environment and doesn't touch the "spirit" of both sims. May be there's a backup option available in the program.

Post by Rollerball on Jun 18, 2009 16:58:05 GMT -5

I would caution anyone against using this especially if you have GW or Silverwings installed. I tried it and found the textures to be crude and with none of the subtlety of Bill's work. In fact IMO this is THE WORST environment set I've ever tried for FS9. To compare it to FSX is farcical.

Also there's no uninstall AND he has the cheek to modify your splash screen with the most awful photoshop of the default screen that I've ever seen.

Luckily I took backups of my main Scenery, Texture and Weather folders and after doing a system restore I'm now in the middle of replacing them. I'll then restore my default splash screen too and delete everything to do with Howard's Mix from my machine.

And good riddance. Yes I get very annoyed when people change things like your splash screen without telling you - that's arrogance in the extreme and it's worse when what they've put in its place is childish rubbish.

If you are not confident with manually copying and deleting files and folders DO NOT touch this with a barge-pole.

Post by robert4368 on Jun 18, 2009 21:02:54 GMT -5

Finealy got this installed to my FS9. Did a manual install, backed up all FS9 files. Definitely not for GW/SW, many different textures. The ground over all is a much better looking than default. Water is darker, looks better than default. Trees I dont like at all, very slim and cartoonish looking. The clouds seem a little bolder than default. The buildings are good. No performance issues with this install. Will do more flying to check this further. But I only fly in GW3, so I wont be keeping this permanetly.

Post by kbr on Jun 19, 2009 1:23:53 GMT -5

I downloaded this as I am always interested in new environments for FS9. After studying the pictures, I decided against installing it at this time as I didn't feel that it looked better than the way I have FS9 already set up. I'll keep the files though as I will at some point probably play around with them.

I have to echo Rollerball's advice in making sure to back up so you can go back, for anyone who installs this, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Post by kbr on Jun 19, 2009 3:37:02 GMT -5

OK if you like areas that are supposed to be brown bare earth being turned into livid dark blue and purple.....

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I wasn't saying this particular package suited my personal tastes, I was just saying that just because I don't like the way it looks, doesn't mean nobody will and I was agreeing with you that anyone trying this needs to back up their original state of FS9 so they can get it back if they want too.

Post by Rollerball on Jun 19, 2009 11:26:29 GMT -5

Kevin, sorry if you misunderstood me - my comment about the blue and purple was just a general one following on from what you said. I didn't mean to imply that you are some kind of red-neck flightsimmer with absolutely no taste or sense of beauty ;D

We older members here know, anyway, that that actually could not be further from the truth